Photo Series: China's Park Life中国影集：中国公园文化

City parks teem with energy across China, offering a social space for the country's young and old. Photographer Francisco Little takes us through the scenes of Beijing's park life.中国各大城市内的公园充满了生机，为年轻人和老年人提供了社交环境。摄影师Francisco Little 带领读者们一起领略中国公园的魅力。

Public parks are often at the center of social life for many Chinese, where all members of the community, young and old, join to unwind, gossip, socialize, entertain and be entertained. A refuge from the teeming high-rises that surround them, the parks and the sheer delight of park goers as they go about their various activities can be infectious. From all forms of singing and dancing, to shuttle-kicking, badminton and martial arts, parks are often the place where the average citizen can shed their inhibitions. People dress up and dress down; high heels and sports shoes walk side-by-side. Some picnic while others play cards, and children seem to explode with energy in the park's freedom. Most city parks are well maintained and visitors have a sense of pride in their space. There are noisy chaotic sections as well as secluded areas that offer a peaceful setting to sit on a bench and meditate on life. From young lovers and senior citizens to executives and shop assistants, parks are where all are equal - for a while - before people need to return to the stress and grind of big city life.

Francisco Little is a South African journalist and photographer. Living in Beijing for the past seven years, Little works with Chinese media as a magazine editor and consultant. Little was first attracted to photography during the 1994 independence period in South Africa, where he saw many opportunities for people in the media to capture the painful, yet amazingly peaceful change on film. Since moving to China, he has sought to capture candid images of ordinary life in China. His work is routinely published in Chinese media and recently National Geographic magazine. He uses a Nikon D300.

"[W]e urge the Chinese leadership to postpone implementation of the [requirement that companies in China use Chinese-controlled info technology products] and grant an opportunity for discussion and dialogue for interested stakeholders with agencies responsible for the initiatives."

- An open letter from various business groups, including the American Chamber of Commerce in China, to "the honorable members of the Chinese Communist Party Central Leading Group for Cyberspace Affairs," dated January 28, 2015.